What is the cost of living in South Elgin, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Elgin has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, South Elgin has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in South Elgin ranks as #246 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies South Elgin ranks as the #90 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in South Elgin, check out:
South Elgin Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Elgin. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Elgin is 100.
The Groceries index in South Elgin is 98.
The Health index in South Elgin is 138.
The Housing index in South Elgin is 101.
The Transportation index in South Elgin is 102.
The Utilities index in South Elgin is 104.
| Living Expense | South Elgin | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 113 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 138 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | 100 |
South Elgin Cost Of Living Compared To Illinois Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in South Elgin Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
South Elgin, IL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Illinois, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in South Elgin is $366,631.
The Median Rent in South Elgin is $1,640.
The Median Income in South Elgin is $127,203.
The Home Value To Income in South Elgin is 2.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Elgin is 0.15x.
| Statistic | South Elgin | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $366,631 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,640 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $127,203 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.9x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
South Elgin, IL Costs By Category
Detailed South Elgin Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | South Elgin | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.32 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.99 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $37.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed South Elgin Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | South Elgin | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.94 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.08 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.61 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed South Elgin Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | South Elgin | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $86.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $82.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed South Elgin Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | South Elgin | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.52 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $45.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed South Elgin Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | South Elgin | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $156.87 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $198.03 | $192.25 |
South Elgin SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Elgin
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Elgin. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Naperville, IL has a cost of living index of 133, 1.2x South Elgin.
Elgin, IL has a cost of living index of 105, 0.9x South Elgin.
Arlington Heights, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 1.1x South Elgin.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Elgin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naperville, IL | 150,692 | 133 | 1.2x |
| Elgin, IL | 114,934 | 105 | 0.9x |
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Mount Prospect, IL | 55,472 | 121 | 1.1x |
| Wheaton, IL | 53,557 | 127 | 1.1x |
| Hoffman Estates, IL | 51,175 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.2x |
| Bartlett, IL | 40,501 | 119 | 1.1x |
| Streamwood, IL | 39,001 | 111 | 1.0x |
| St. Charles, IL | 32,854 | 118 | 1.0x |
